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Conservation Resources 



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BY 



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I'm a son of a foreign land. 

And maybe foreign sounds my song; 
But that my voice shall be heard here, 

I cherish the dream in heart long. 

And if you would not understand 
A word, a feeling, or a thought. 

Then of a wanderer j'^ou think 

That from a far land flowers brought. 



By A. ZIMMEBMAN. 




^^ y^^^;r 



Copyright 1922 

by 
A. Zimmerman 



Let them sing of the glory of the mountains high, 
I will sing of their rocks and stones. 

Of beast that there in darkness crj% 
Of beast and bird and of their groans. 

O' let them sing of forests solemn great and old, 
Of what it dreams and often grieves. 

I will of its roots sing untold, 
I will sing of the dying leaves. 



I happy felt and laughed. 

But when of laughter tired got. 

Began to feel in me the devil laughs. 

I gloomy felt and cried. 

But when my heart became sick crying, 

I felt the beast in me was howling wild. 

And silent I became — 

And felt that I'm a mortal God, 

That silently speak to the eternal. 



I saw today a song 

Of charms and grace — 
You, you it were. 

It was your face. 

I heard today a dream 

Of pure rejoice — 
It was of mirth 

And cheer your voice. 



Poor girl, happy you are because 
Near the window given a place — 

Where you rising your little head 
See sometimes a passerby will face. 

Poor girl, happy you are because 
A little sunshine more you'll get. 

O' poor girl, your toil the sun 

And the world will make you to forget. 



Did you hear a sigh 

In the darkness of the night — 
A deep and gentle sigh 

That disturbed the silence quiet! 

O, may be a spirit kind 

Fleeted by, 
Or we chosen were 

To hear a sad angel cry. 



We came in the world that our deathless souls 
Shall feel that were in this world glorious great. 
That in their wandering they didn't miss 
A world. They misery and woe don't fear. 
What it's to those that restless are to see 
New heavens blue and stars above their heads. 



And the Creator Lord said to Chaos: 

"I want of you a world to create, 
Chaos, Chaos, I will make of you 

A world great." 

Then w^ailed and roared ages long, long Chaos 
And said, O Lord, "Let me what -was be 

From commandments holy and from rules. 
And laws free." 

And the Lord long thought and said to Chaos: 

"Don't fear, and don't dread, you my first born! 
You will never, never from the world 

Be forlorn." 

* * * * 

A voice I heard that I dreaded and distrusted 
That wiiispered to me: 
"Disregard the world! 
Scoff the wise ! 

Let them walk their paths of right — ( ; U 

And you go your wrong path. ''-■■, 
Let them laugh loudly at you — 
You laugh inwardly at them. 
Let them laugh in daylight at you — 
Y'ou laughed at them in the darkness of night. 
Let them find strength in the strength of the mul- 
titudes — 
You seek strength in the strength of the one." • 

'T* T* •f* •1* 

I know sometimes days and weeks long: 

Your soul is burdened with a great, great feeling 

And you don't know^ why. But it is a song — 
It is a song that is your heart deep thrilling. 

Believe this thought, believe your inner voice! 

Don't say: "Not often generous is to us the nature. 
O, it itself is full with great rejoice. 

When makes with a song a soul or creature." 



TWO PRAYERS 

Father, father of the world! 

See as a beast wild 
For a rabbit hunts 

Trailing yours a helpless child. 

Father, father of the world! 

See the poor beast's pain. 
As a whole night long 

Starving hunts for prey in vain. 



Your sorrow deep you cannot tell. 
You would your soul yourself offend- 

liut I your inner woe and pain 
In my soul feel and understand. 

Still untouched is your body white 
And your tried, tempted soul is pure. 

And all the storms great of days young. 
Endured as wise old saints endure. 

And now your body snowy white. 
And your soul sweet you give away 

To one that filled you with a sense 
That you forever are his prey. 



In their iron cages 

I watched the wild beasts, 
And by the lion old 

Deeply was impressed. 

And not by his strength. 
And not by his grace. 

But by his desire 

Back and forth to pace. 

No man ever chained. 

No king in a cell 
Could more of his woe 

Than this Spacing tell. 



I every day, hour every find 

In me another unknown soul. | ^ 

And left forgotten ^pbehind w^ 

A fleeting dream, a deathless goal. 

And dead tomorrow will be I ^ 

Dead will be the jjne of today.,--^^ t VvuaVj 

And now tor my soul Hyinffyry ^ -. 

And now for the new trCw i onG^)ray. \^ 



O many thousands songs I wrote 

And not a crust of bread for them I get — 
And youth and hfe I sacrified for them, ^^ 

And Uiat at -night coukl write them, at day sweat. 
And for them challenged life and death. 

And I will may be struggling, struggling fall. 
And those that will some day besmirch my name. 

And those that insight will gain in my strange life, 
Or that they gained will slanderously claim 

O, devil's roar'U get honor, gold and fame. 



Once in my childhood poor^md long, long gone 
Of a strange pain in souPaware became — 

It burned and burned and burned days long and 
nights 
Till thought in me it burns God's sacred flame. 

And then I heard a grave and solemn voice: 

"O, mortal bend your knees and hide your face! 
And let your heart rejoice a great rejoice. 

Because you're chosen to speak for your race. 

JtHt 
It is you that in the humblest hovel *'rc born. 

That to the great and mightj-QsciMlto speak — 
Becauseflsaid leaders can make of forlorn 

As thunders roar can make the weak and meek. 



I am a beast that through the jungle 
Is making his trail all alone, 

Thatfe a proud outcast of his heard 
Distrusted by all and loved by none. 

And his heart tg craving for a friend. 
But his own brother wouldn|t greet. 

And in a deadly grip would fall. 
If he his mate desired would meet. 



8 



There are thoughts that are born only in the mind 
Of the poor, homeless, shelterless one — 
In the minds of those that are alone. 

O, many of those were born in my mind. 

There are thoughts that are born only in the mind 
Of the one that is out in rain and storm. 
And feels as on a rock a worm. 

O, many of those were born in my mind. 

There are thoughts that are born only in the mind 

That cannot see a world in need. 

And wants for others cry and plead. 
O, many of those were born in my mind. 

* * * * 

There are multitudes that weep 
And the world sees never theirs a tear — 
Millions cry in sorrow and pain deep 
That men in life never, never hear. 

There's in poverty and darkness great 
Hidden hopes and glimpses of rejoice, — 

O, Lord, let me see and hear their fate, 
Let me of the voiceless be the voice. 



I am a loving child of cosmos, 
A little child wise and deep feeling 
That looks in the face sorrowful 
Of his poor helpless, helpless mother. 
And he feels all her pains and woes. 
And he suspects hidden miseries 
That with his love he cannot relieve. 
And in his heart there's fear and pity 
For his poor mother and himself — 
And he tries to console her and 
Tears bitter tears of a little child 
Soul-broken^>el^^Vc^ow^ his cheeks. 

9 



Liui icars ui a 
ken/iie^lV^iowE 



When I am tired of the world, 

When I am sick of the world, k^MXf 

When I am(ittft^at the world— *^ /" 

Then I want to go to a forest *' 

Or a field covered with grass. 

Because there are times when men and women and 

childrerftlove; 
And there are times when men and women and 

childrenihate, — 
But in the bitterest moments of my life 
Never felt yet'hate in my soul to a tree 
Or a blade of grass. 



The mystery of my strength was that I never 
seemed to the world what I am. 

And I seemed to be foolishly smiling the smile of a 
fool»peasant when I scoffed the world. 

And 1 seamed to be a boneless weakling, 

When I felt that stronger than storms was my 
desire to say my word. 

And I seemed to be a willing slave when bathe and 
drown could my masters in the boundless sneer- 
ing hate of my soul. 



For the sun and field and forest 

Cries your soul 
And youjjfe told: Your holiest calling 

Is to toil. 

And for goals far and worj[iJ endless 
Aj^M^pnlparml* crave, t^^^H^ 
V And you're tought: The greater virtue 
Is to slave. 



10 



Days of uusec^knew, 

When was hungry and cold. 
And my pockets contained 

I thought mountains of gold. 

And I voiceless was,*^''^'*^^ 
And degraded and meek, 

Anc^thought thatV'was born 
To a great world to speak. 

With the gift I was born » 
To feel and understand, 

But I ran from my foe 
And still further from fired. 

And I dreamed and I thought: 
This is the wonderful fate 

Of the one that wants help 
God his world to create. 



11 



Woefe to the beast that to facets born. 
Rain and hail and wild wind and storm — 
To wander days lost and forlorn — 
•^T^ And given|fa shelter quiet and warm. 

Woe^ to the beast that's born to roam 
In fear and terror seeking prey — 
j:if%jSJ(!!*4e&^ given is he ^i a restful home, 

And blood to drink and bones to play. 

Woefe to the beast that is born to scent 

Of deadly enemy the breath — 

And that protected from man's hand 

And from beast's claws and beast's sharp teeth. 



O Lord, Lord as my ancestor of old 

To sacrifice my childj^vouldnOt fear, ^H^ 

If sacrifice hiniCwould b(VtoTd, 

But, pray, don't make your message him to bear! 



.-— "vO Lord, your will I wouldnOt disobey y ^ittfij 

U ^ J\.nd slaui>htci'^would my o nI>^>^n — ^^ 

-fjr^'^^^/But Lord, niy Lord! O Lord^ pray 

jh"^""''^ He shall not be born as -me, your chosen one! 



12 



Where is your fatherland? — your say? — 

I was with you in the same old world born- 
And father poor and mother sweet I mourn, 

And to the same old God I pray. 

And in my childhood poor in sadness gone, 
^J Loved feo look at the moon late at night, 
_ And Ipvecl to scc ^t h(>^a me oJd stars bright, 
And greeted as yof^wSr by(J||^Upfce sun. 

a . 

And taken back by mother earth ¥fill be. 

And as yours my soul God will have to face. 
And glory i«*«TTTi4«^nd endless graco . 

My soul and youi5?n'^t>orThe same LordTT see. 



t:^ 



God loves all, all the lonesome — 

Those that are with sad and sick souls. 
With longings hidden deep in their hearts 

For far, far worlds and unreached goals. 

God|» with those that in silence cry 

And only cry when all alone. 
For the dreams holy unattained. 

And for the days dear that are gone. 

God loves the lonesome all that cry - . jKM( 

As old oaks ,dyifi -g:; ifl 4e4y cfuiet— ^ -tkft^ 

Because long hours he himself. 
Cries in the darkness of the night. 

God loves to be with all that cry 

When all alone of their sad fate. 
O, he himself of world's fair dreamed 

Long ages that he couldn't create. 



13 



I^CtU^ 



LIFE AND DEATH 

On a summer sunny morning, 
fofaj ^T^^aJ ^ ^^ , When theJieavens scattered gold, 
"^ Choppingwood once^saw 
A man under a tree old. 

And the tree in glory green 
Greej^d east and greeted west, 

And spoke of its silken leaves. 
And of the birds in its nests. 



I bless j'ou. Lord, for the great glory 

Of being by my brother men misunderstood. 

And for the joj's of bearing all their burdens. 
And that for them I chosen was to brood. 

I bless you. Lord, that 1 for them 

Not they for me in darkness often shed a tear. 
That I their pains to know their woes to carry 

Born was not thev my to know and to bear. 



You're laughing — laugh, but you remember. 
Not a soun^ in the world is lost. 

That wanderTT through a thousand worlds 
Till reach will to the holy ghost. 

You're crying — cry, but you remember, 
That ages long sound every soars. 

And the Lord will turn away his face. 
When hearken R to your moaning coarse. 



14 



O, when \\ in my life-long/Dattle would, 

And conquered would^e my fate, 

An\ a glorious ami great 
ViclorVvand jo}' Ix^ould. 
Througn\a long/nay celebrate — 
A sorro\v\\vamd feel that awake. 
Can't my spoffers snatched by death; 

That nyf sireerers are gone will regret- 
The on^ l|hat\irged to forsake 

Mjp^oal, and oreams to forget. 



Proud she was and pure, pure in soul, 

But faltered once and had to fall. 

Smce then she felt 'WT sorrow grmi — 

There is no room for h^jjand him V 

In this gnetft' world. Burwas to kind v |V^. 

Room for herself to seek to find. 

So pure and proud and bold and grim, 

She made room in the world for him. 



When I feel a tear, 

I don't let it fall 
On the muddy ground to sink, — 

This is a child dear 
Of my tortured soiil 

That'*nr son^Vil adopt, I think. 



15 



So I was mocked. 
I was born in the world with the frail body 
Of a half-starved beast 

And the face of a stone cutter or woodchopper, 
And a soul that wanted to be always in the 
Realms of thoui^ht and of dreams. 
With a heart that yearned for the seen and unseen 
Beautiful of life. 

So I was mocked. 

And so were you mocked. 
Born with the grace and bearing of a king 
With the strength of a beast that was fed 
On warm blood and trembling yet with 
Life flesh — 

You only see the world you live in 
And more you don't want and for more 
You don't crave, * 

So were you mocked. 



O' Lord, I saw as your young children die 

And as to death as brutal beast were sent. 
And motherfcried and fathers that couldn't cry 

To their graves sad, heartbroken went. 
And I, O Lord, wouldn't step on a crawling worm, 
P Lord, day every 're buried angels sweet 
That came in world to fill us with delight, 

Born love to radiate with every breath, 
Given to the horror of an endless right 

And I to fallen leaves would give a shelter warm. 



te 



* * * * 

When God loves me, 

I smile — 
jVnd his great presence 
^LFeel for a while. 

When God loves me, 

I cry— 
And hear him asking: 

Poor child, why, why! 



n 



More than the Lord of above 
Pity I his children sick. 
More than flj^e his helpless weak 

And 4ii>l Pys creature^love. 

Of tenJipray fortjlf the dead. 
All the dead far, far and near. 
And in my heart there is a tear 

For all those that are with souls sad. 

And the beauty feel I 
r. iwi^ _More than He of birds that sing, 
f l^l^^rit ffieMlowers b«giht in spring 
That so young and early die. 

And I pity more the worm, 

And the hungry roaming beast. 
And the lark that lost her nest 

In a night of rain and storm. 



«hao~t4i€-Fattpe¥-t?f-3Bov^; — * rM>^ 



Pity mo^e his children poor. 

And my soul cannot endure 

To see them deprived of love. 



17 



':^i^ 



My unknown dear! 
As there is a God in the world I swear. 
That flesh of my own flesh I often tear 
That songs I could create. 
But may be younger flesh demand will fate. 

unknown dear! ^^ 

Will you let me flesh of your young flesh tear 
That songs I could create? 

My unknown dear! 
As there is one God in the world I swear. 
That blood of my blood to pour I don't fear 
That songs I could create. 
But may be purer blood demand will fate. 

O unknown dear! 
To pour your young pure blood would not you fear 
That songs I could create? 



I saw my richest dream, n#»sf=tfe«ng hopes 
In the full bloom of a full life. 
But not in my own poor dark life, 
But in ^e lives^of those that never 
As I decades lOTig toiled for bread — 
And did not slave and sweat for* shelter. 
And never were nights long awake, . » 
And never knew the pains heartbreaking 
Of failures great year after year; 
And never saw the ruins ghastly 
As I of what they built and built 
With blood and tears. 



18 



Far in the cloudless, blue, blue of the heaven 
Before my gaze my soul a cloud detects. 

And every trembling ray of an old star 
Reflects. 

And often for the color of a rainbov^ 
My lord in soul unwillingly reproach — 

And feel sometimes a star is there in the world 
Too much. 



w leaves 



The rustle of fallenV leaves 

Spoke to me and said: 
"Death is in our lives 
/f And alive^^hen dead." 

I W^*^fr^' Memorizind/<s[liisper 
•V>^ * Puzzles of life and death. 

__ Wonders whisper, whisper, 
%J^t}\^ ' Lest w^hem forget. 



Birds that are dead will never sing. 
Maybe this is the reason why 
So often many of them die 

In early spring. 

Someone a great one that's somewhere, 
The silence wants of a dark night — 
That the worldls voiceless and quiet 

He wants to hear. 



Jl^ 



19 



r 



O, hearken to me Lord, 

I speak for brother-man. 
We want a God that roar 

A healthy laughter can. 

And be a fool as we. 

And with us children play. 
n-^jM^ .A»d shall not expect of us 

O, hearken to me God! ' 

I speak |"or brother-men. 
We want and need a God 

That with real tears cry can. 

We are tired and bored to death 

You to bless, to you pray. 
And often mad nftikes us ' » 

That you're so far away. , 



O, hearken to me God! 

I speak for brother-men. 
Live with us, play with us. 

Cry with us, if you can. 



Shing Lee kneeled before almighty Buddah 

And, devotedly in woe and pain. 
Prayed for the peace in his land. 

For bread, sunshine and for rain. 

And lo! a great and strange wonder happened- 
Buddah solemnly moved once his head. 

And Shing Lee, amazed by this great wonder. 
Fell before his God on the ground dead. 



20 



•• 



/ i 

In olden times once al strange won^fler happened: 
A mother with a child in a jungle strayed. 

And long she sought' in vain a trodden path, 

And long In vain to heaven's implored and prayed. 

And then dieavthc Loor and Helpless mother. 

And many years Iby the brekst of the dead — 
Till found there Vvais once by /a hunting king, 

The infant witn milk pur^and fresh was fed. 



Blood of my blood all over in the world 
For life and light and sunshine craves. 

And flesh of my flesh in the farthest corners of the 
world 
By worms are eaten and forever rot in jm^d graves. 



idlhe 



And souls of my soul are in deep hell andV heaven 

for the good that did and the evil. 
And brothers poor of mine and sisters helpless, 
weak of mine. 

In sorrow and despair call for God and the devil. 



Things that would call a miracle in my life. 
That my soul would spur^and overwiielm — 

I saw in the liN^Pof others. 

And they were calm and ungrateful. 

And, as suckling babies that bite the breast that 
feeds them. 

They drink of the joy of life. 
And despise the source of them. 

And given are they to them by the same power 

That deprived me of light and air. 



21 



Said the new world to the old: 
You with toilers simple and plain 
Only payingflCre for my grain. 

For my bread and blood and gold." 

Said the old world to the new: 
"Pay you'll with another wage — 
I the singer of the age, 

Send you will sincere and true." 



Begin, begin, begin, begin. 

This is what a new born child is told. 

And this we hear in our age old — 

Begin, begin, begin, begin. 

To 'live, to laugh, to love, to win. 

Begin, begin, begin, begin. 

To dream, to ask, to think, to speak. 

To wander and to roam and seek. 

Begin, begin, begin, begin. 

To hope, to do, to build, to sin. 



Kiddie, Kiddie, a little dove, 
^^ *jLiiiLU ^ doye yyfn m^^a^tf ound, a-inother sad. 

^P^(mj ^iyw»f Lay that thought /that she isVlead. 

' ' ' / / / 

"And/what'U you do with the dove?" 

Myi child, my little child ! This dove will kill. 
And I'or b^by darning sweet, 

Ajid for you wtll cook a meal. 



22 



A TRAGEDY OF THE JUNGLE 

Back from the Jungle dying 
Came to his den a wild beast, 

Bleeding from a wound 
Deadly in his breast. 



The cubs licked the blood stained 
Fighting lustily around, 

Waiting till more blood 
Will be on the ground. 



Jp^Wvj^^^^' 



d 



From behind the old trees. 
Looked long^^t the naked moon. 
And she dreamed in her nude glory. 
Then she saw me, and confused 
She smiled, and to hide herself 

Tried behind the clouds. 

^ ^ ^ ^ 

One thing my hard life impresses 

Always on my mind — 
Not to see the pains of men. 

And be to their sorrows blind. 
As thej' ^re to my sorrows bliaid. 

And another thing impresses 
My life on my mind — 

To remember all my pains 
When the world is not to me kind. 

And be to the struggling kind. 



Deaf of the world, blind of the world! 

I can you understand. 
O, cripples and hunchbacks of the world, 

I am your brother friend! 

As att the blind|(don't see sometimes, 
As all the deaf sometimes don't hear. 

And as the cripples and the hunchbacks 
In strange shame often shed a tear. 



23 



Far is the road and level is the road. 

To lakes and monntains and to cities leads. 
And the men that tread day and night the ground 

Are of ever>' race and breed and many creeds. 

And in times gone a traceless jungle it was. 
S>t*__ And the trail first made a man lost, forlorn. 
That prayed and cried and pleaded cursing fate 
Not knowing that to tread a path was born. 



It is a burden heavy 

That men must bravely bear — 
In days of pain and sorrow 

Not to dare shed a tear. 
And my soul cries and cries 

And is longing for the right 
That to my sisters is given — 

To cry in days of plight. 



A thought lurked in my mind, 

A thought that my soul stirred. 
And troubled me for a while, 
And disappeared. 

Who knows maybe it is the thought 

That wanders ages long. 
That seeks a holy mind 

And fiery tongue. 

Maybe it was a thought 

That would a world enlight. 

And point to shortest path 
To love and right. 



24 



Maybe you have no God above, 
Maybe as grass you grow and die. 

Maybe as beast in field and forest 
To no one call, to no one cry. 

But his might and his force I feel 

hi the bread that I'm given and not given 

In every painful v^'ound of mine 
Feel the hand of the Lord in heaven. 



A water drop on the ground fell 
And, as if beast and men it feared. 

It began to sink in the sand dry 

And from the surface it disappeared. 

It went to the depths of the earth. 
The source of hidden springs to seek. 
That could come back with a stream fair 
Or with a noisy jumping creek. 



I'll find you among ten thousand, 

When come will my day; 
I'll find you among ten thousand 

As a beast his prey. 

A sight of yours, yours a whisper. 

Will you me betray; 
Here's the spoil that to me is promised 

In wild joy I'll say. 



25 



She cried long in the great, great silence 

And in the darkness of the night — 
And he stood helplessly and humbled, 

And silent was and quiet. 
In the deep darkness of the night. 

And those that heard it (angels heard it), 
Cried long, long and noiselessly quiet. 

They cried the strange way silence cries. 
As darkness cries at night. 

But they cried with him that was quiet. 



You, too, young sweet faced girl. 

With sunbreak hurry to the factory gate! 
Where you will share with us 

Our miserable dark fate. 

O if to toil, sweet child. 

Must always I for shelter and for bread — 
Why doesn't my slavery 

Free you of this fate sad. 



I think, the Lord's my foe 
And that he must me hate. 

And feels regret and woe 
That thought me to create. 

He must be wrathful mad 
That not poor man I blame. 

That the world is gray and sad. 
But that it's his fault claim. 



26 



O, how beautiful are the words we don't say! 

They're as flowers that never yet a petal lost. 
They are as trees — phantoms that their branches 
sway — 

But that are by rain and storm never tossed. 

They are children of a joy that words couldn't find. 
They're the shyness of one that beg did not dare. 

Truth liidden of one that to tell the truth is too kind. 
Wounds of one that a heart wounded would not 
bare. 

Words that weren't said are the curses of the wise. 
And despair of the one that still cherishes his 
faith. 

Of those that in darkness trust a sun'll arise, 

Bringing glowing blossoms, scatter raining light. 



In Fall time winds blow day and night, 
In Fall time winds blow the fallen leaves to scatter. 
They scatter the leaves in the world, 
The winds seek, seek for them far graves, graves 
unknown. 

That in the long cold winter nights 

The bare trees should not see around dead children. 

The winds blow them away far, far 

That the sorrow of the trees shall not be too great. 



27 



I am the one that fell a thousand times. 

And that heard the crowd jeer, "You lost !" 

But I could never dare to lose — 
I was ashamed to lie in dust. 

1 was ashamed to breathe and not to struggle. 

And disgrace feared a stone and grave. 
If buried'll be as one that died in chains, 

If die will with the marks of a slave. 



Ten songs yesterday I wrote. 
But I didn't earn my bread — 

But today not one I wrote. 

This day sold to earn my bread. 

O the devil's quaint humor's subtle. 

And enjoy would I liis wit. 
If not I would bo his viclim, 

But just the same fine's his wit. 



There are two in the world that know who I am- 

(iod and me. 
But he is silent, silent, silent. 

And the world doesn't listen to me. 

And the world does not listen to me. 



28 



In the beginning of beginnings 
Two deathless forces were, 

And one could not obey, 

The other one could not conquer. 

And so our great world was created 
And warm blood thirst our breasts, 

And we cry for the world 

And we are lambs and we are beasts. 



That fate cruel on my road 

I will meet, I knew^ — 
But, God, I didn't think to find 

On my way you too. 

I thought that by men'll be scoffed 

That chose a path new. 
But didn't think that scoffed will be 

My Lord by you too. 



The yellow trees with joy and love 
See coming a girl pure and sweet. 

And with deep tenderness they rustle 
And as a dear friend loving greet. 

The poor and simple trees happy are. 

And they don't know that she v.ouldn't stroll 
Among them late in summer days, 

If unhappy wouldn't feel her soul. 



29 



I am driven by a duty 

That's as hard as fate. 
Stronger than all deepest passions 

To create and recreate. 

I am tortured by an urging 

Of my cosmic soul. 
To serve a God cosmic, 

To enrich a cosmic goal. 



There are strange days in my and your life — 

When a twittering bird us offend, 
And provoked are by a fleeting star. 

And hard's to bear the voice of a friend. 

You long and long and you don't know why. 

And things that you never craved, you crave. 
And, woe's to you when you are a king! 

And, woe's to you when you are a slave! 

In days as these — thoughts of his gone youth 

Fills the old with a great gloom. 
The soul of the youth cries for his mate. 

And a girl cries for her unknown groom. 



30 



I would not love and would not bless. 

Because with sorrow in my breast. 
In helpless anguish always saw 

Downtrodden and oppressed. 
The dear ones that I loved. 

The dear ones that I blessed. 

I swear forever not to curse. 

And no one in the world to hate. 

Because the ones in wrath I cursed — 
It was my cruel fate 

To see them gain and win, 
And battles won celebrate. 



I strolled in the fields without a goal 

And very sat I on a stone. 
An endless jungle was in my soul 

And was and felt I all alone, alone. 

And I looked from afar at an oak old 
That seemed as I to dream and long — 

And bushes in the distance called 

To share with him the thrill of a bird's song. 



The sun is hesitating, 
The world to leave. 

The shadows of the trees. 
In silence grieve. 

And creeping from afar 
Comes the dark night. 

And hushingly it whispers; 
"Be quiet, be quiet!" 

31 



The girls dive and the girls plunge, 
And the girls dance, the girls swim. 

What makes them so happy ? Not thoughts, 
Not a dream. 

The girls love the blazing sun — 

And the sun see in the skies. 
And when they gaze at the waves. 

Its reflection meets their eyes. 



I dreamed in the shadow 

Of a old, old tree. 
And deep in my soul 

Felt — it dreamed with me. 

And, when evening dawned, 

Rested left the tree. 
And I felt it longed, 

Louiicd to follow me. 



THE ETERNAL WOMANLY 

My father died when I was a little child. 
And when young, very, of my mother was deprived. 
But know — that more my mother loved. 
My brothers died in infancy but know — 
My sister's love I more than them would love. 
And in the world the plight of woman strange 
My pitying heart touches more and deeper 
Than the plight and woe of my brother man. 
And, if would children have, the caress gentle 
Of a little daughter love more than my sons would. 



32 



I put you on fire my poor songs. 

Because when life by me were given. 
My soul wasn't in heat and fever, 

And flame of heaven. 

And I dream you'll come back in the world- 
When in my soul will be fire and light — 

And as stars eternal you'll shine 
hi a dark night. 

* * * * 

Gentle, sweet and fragrant grew a flower 

Of bird and bee a friend. 
Once on a summer day its power 

Lured to itself a cruel hand. 

And for the dew and morning light. 
And for the stars in heaven, 

And for the dreams of evening quiet- 
Was water in a little glass given. 

* * * * 

In my life often thought — the sun 

Will come and give me light. 
x\nd then charred and burned were byit 

The dreams and castles I built at night. 

And the most tender breeze of spring 
That cheer and vigor and relief 

To my heart tired I hoped will bring — 
Brought me new often pains and grief, 

* * * * 

The trees think a human thought. 

And dream in a human spell. 
And the moon is hinting unheard words, 

Untold tales the stars little tell. 

All obedient to the great Lord, 

Quiet are and still — 
And the mysteries of his. 

And his glory don't reveal. 



33 



We were nothing and '11 be nothing. 
As the far stars in the skies— 

As the cry of a little child. 
And as the light of fire flies. 

We were nothing and '11 be nothing, 

As our predecessors gone. 
Don't fall in love with the world! 

Don't fall in love with the sun! 



Today was out I in the suburbs 

And I began to stray. 
And I stopped a little girl. 

And asked her for my way. 

And cheerfully the sweet girl-child. 
The girl-child sweet and plain. 

With manner solemn tried 
Me my way to explain. 

We parted — and a feeling kind 
Awoke deep in my breast, 

And that shall never stray 
In her life her I blessed. 



We're wise and we are sad. 
Because came from the greatest of worlds- 
From a world that was always nothing, 
And's nothing, and'll be nothing, nothing. 

We're thoughtful and we're gloomy. 
Because go to the greatest of worlds 
To a world that was always nothing, 
And's nothing, and'll be nothing, nothing. 



34 



I want a great sun for myself. 

And of my own a night. 
And darkness would I give the owl, 

The skylark give would light. 

I for myself demand a world 
That you may be don't need — 

Where fish and seagulls fall in love, 
And wolf with her milk rabbit'll feed. 



A strange dream he dreamed. His slave said 
To him in a voice low and meek: 

"O, master, with this I'll buy bread, 
But how can 1 be sick?" 

"O, master, when my children'll live, 

I shelter and food them I'll buy. 
But, how I Collins and graves will give 

My children when they'll die?" 



In the blue heaven, 

O, shimmering little star! 
Are you too high? 

I am too far? 

Little, twinkling star 

In the blue of the night, — 
You miss my song, 

I miss your light! 



35 



There's a fear in my heart that my soul 
Will be overfilled with bitterness 
And then, when a child'll tell me a word 
Harsh or cruel, tears'll be in my eyes. 

And men'U wonder and will say: "How foolish 
He is. A child said a cruel word 
And he cries as a little child himself 
He would be." 



And 1 said to the silence of the fields — 

I came to you that you shall life in me instill — 

I was told that the green of grass, 

Hope and strength give again me will. 

And with a sick and longing heart I said 

To the spread glory of the endless blue in heaven: 

"Faith and rest, and hopes, and dreams great 
By you, I was told, to men's often given." 

And the green of the grass, and the silence great. 
And the blue of the heaven said: "O, we bless 

With faith and joy, and cheer, and dreams 
All those that joy and life and love possess." 



36 



O, woe's to me that wise I am! 

That so much sad I sec ahead, 
That the age old of children see, 

And of young brides the future sad. 

O, woe's to me that wise I am! 

That ask why, why a home build I? 
Why seek a male and children have? 

When she and I and lliev will die. 



I want a slave 

That, when will seek my heart to win, 
Shall have the gift to feel — 

The hour stroke when long for a queen. 

A ruler want, 

A ruler unafraid and brave. 
That feel shall— that's the time 

That most I need is a meek slave. 



I was sad, sad today and glad 
And happy felt, and unhappy felt — 
I met today the one that I 
Would choose to be the mother great 
Of our world. If the Lord decide 
Would to create a better race. 
And I couldn't fall on my kncer>. 
And I could not touch with my lips 
Her toes, and could not pray to her. 
And couldn't ask her to touch me 
With her pale fingers. 



37 



A DREAM 

In those days o' cruel devil 

That, when helpless was'll remind 
Roaring wild a scoffing laughter 

Followed me behind. 

And I, cruelly triumphing, 
Will at you my laughter roar, 

And will make you feel the sorrows 
Of my heart of yore. 



LOOKING AT THE CROWD 

Gloomy men, men sad 

Out in rain and storm, 
Struggle and fight for bread. 

And for shelter warm. 

Only I alone, alone, 

Dream of things strange that by heaven 
Only to a chosen one 

Once in an age long is given. 



38 



In a better world live will 

Those that in the future will be born. 
They our sorrows would not feel, 

They our losses would not mourn — 
And their days in strife will not be forlorn. 

But we chosen are by fate 

To joys higher and to joys deep more — 
We're in the ^^'orld to create 

All that is for them in store, 
And we are the father of the great. 



We are two worlds. 

Two worlds that long to meet. 
And each of us 

Is to the other sweet. 

And when two worlds 
In universe must meet. 

The weaker one 

The better one is lost. 



Many, many children souls 

Sweet and charming are in heaven — 
Why was taken back to his Lord, 

When not long to earth was given? 

Father, Father of the world. 
Father of the pure and just? 

You a little soul only gained 
And a mother a world lost. 



39 



Don't tell me you did not sin — 

In a world of sinners we must hate the saints. 

Don't tell me j^ou did not sin, 

Because of all sins one of the greatest is: NOT to 

be human enough to sin. 
Don't tell me you did not sin, 
Because the greatest of sins is not to be brave 

enough to sin. 



Chilly are the starrj'^ heavens 
And the dozing trees are quiet, 

And you see the stars are proud 
Of the splendor of their night. 

Cloud and moon you see are awake 
In the full glory of their state. 

You ask them for their subtle spell. 
In a hush they answer, "Wait." 



Under the leaves yellow of the trees 

Stood a girl child 
Dressed in snowy white and scarlet 

And innocently smiled. 

At the picture looked admiring I 

Of life and death. 
O it's painful to remember, 

Painful to forget, 



40 



I saw today a happy girl 

That was a job this morning given. 
And felt as she would get a gift 

From a fate kind or boon from heaven. 

And this job I know'll bend her spine 
And ruin will her girlish grace. 

And break her youthful spirit will, 
And rob the color of her face. 



If I would be a God, maybe I bloody sacrifices 

would demand — 
Because I know the fascination of demanding 

sacrifices. 
If I would be a high priest, I may be would offer 

my brother man to my deity 
Because I know the spell of offering. 
If I would be a savage father, my child would 

sacrifice 
Because withstand couldn't the urging passion to 

be a victim of my creator — 
Because I found I couldn't resist the lure of sacri- 
ficing my life, my youth and every throb of 

my soul to an unknown God, 



The waves of the ocean storm the boat. 
O ocean, ocean, whom do have on the bottom? 
To whom do you want to bring a precious gift? 
Are the monsters hungry and you promised them a 

meal ? 
Are the fishes gloomy and you promised them 

playthings? 



41 



A mother was glad, 
A mother was sad — 
A rope for her only son hidden she had. 
In the gloom quiet, quiet. 
Of a deep dark night 

Wouldn't swinging hang hours long, long under 
stars bright. 

Himself when he'll feel 

Chose his last hour will — 

Ihe hangman of hanging would not get his thrill. 

A mother was glad 

A mother was sad — 

A rope for her only son, hidden she had. 



I like the city late at night, 

When the stars in the skies are briglit, 

And felt is the mystery of sleep 

In the breath of trees, silence deep. 

And I feel that the world is gone. 
When only for awhile alone. 
And then I feel I am God's child, 
Forgotten long in life wild. 

And I want to speak to the Friend 
Great, that me to this world once sent. 
And ask what is a silent night? 
A dreaming world and far stars bright. 



42 



A little wound in heart 
Made by grief I had, 

That made me hours long. 
That made me hours sad. 

Now this pain forgot 
And long overcame — 

I forgot it when 
A woe deeper came. 



It's a wonderful strange thing 

That I early and late, late 
Think and think, and think, and think 

Of God, men and life and fate. 

And to meet was never blessed 
One that in my presence feel 

Shall — here's one that never rests, 
Whose soul is never, never still. 



0, mother my mother, you that raised me more witli 
tears than with bread! 

What shall I tell you the sweetest and best? 
You are the grand mother of all the songs 

That I nurse in my breast. 



43 



I am born with a soul to pity, 

To pity all that are in need. 

To feel the woes of the downtrodden. 

But I am not a saint and when 

I struggle hard most for my own bread, 

And fight to have a roof above 

My head the misery of men 

Forget. 

But 1 vow by the Holy Lord, 

And my own long hard struggles swear 

That for the bread of all the hungry. 

And for their shelter I will fight. 

When bread and shelter for myself 

Will have. 



I asked myself what is my gloom? 

I answered when the day was done 
In glory and in splendor saw 

For a short while the setting sun. 

I asked myself why do I brood? 

And answered through the morning mist, 
When hurried to my daily task. 

At dawn I saw the sun in east. 

I that dreamed of suns of my own. 

That wants more light than the Lord made, 

Day every long the only sun 

That given was me for bread I trade. 



44 



When a lion gets old and feeble 
And for a rabbit hunt's too weak, 

Doesn't he then think of his sad fate? 
And doesn't he then to' his Lord speak? 

Doesn't he then lie and think and think 
Why must he crave warm blood and meat? 

Why wasn't created by the Lord 
That as as zebra grass could eat? 

Doesn't he roar his snarling roar 
With scoffing innermost and hate? 

That live as a king he was born 
And die as a mouse is his fate. 



I'm born of the tribe of Jagudah, 

An offspring of the house of David, 

Of David, the King and psalm singer. 

And God, the Lord great, to me said: 

"You don't get no share and no portion 

In the Possessions of Jagudah, 

And no part you'll get in his dominions. 

In the assembly great of mighty 

You would not seat. But you will be 

To me a singer as David my knight 

The King great of Jagudah. 



45 



And maybe '11 come to heaven, 
As children back to home. 

Tired of the long, long day 
And tired to play and roam. 

And there we'll stories tell — 

One killed a butterfly. 
And one a garden ruined 

And one told a big lie. 

And satisfied will laugh 

And bold and loud we'll boast. 
And we'll dream the next day 

Our pranks be wilder must. 



I heard the Lord laughed bitterly and cried, 

1 chose you of a generation said. 
To be a master and to be a reigning king — 

And you dig ditches went to earn your bread. 

Souls ages long created and destroyed 

And you to be my spokesman were told. 

And you for miserable little crusts of bread. 
And for a damp and dark cage your life sold. 



46 



To give my sweet song life 

Blood of my blood I give, 
Soul of my soul they get 

That a full life could live. 

And my blood crying hear: 

"Feeble man, spare your blood warm ! 
And my soul cries: "Man, save 

Your soul for days of storm 1' 

fools, fools what they are! 

What is blood or a soul? 
And what are stormy days 

To one that has a goal. 



Today I wander could and stroll, 
Today could at the heavens I stare. 

And with delight young in my soul 
Breathe a little of God's air. 

But few and counted are my free hours, 
And the world of books is so great. 

And love must be suppressed of flowers, 
And stars when want my own create. 



47 



I asked myself: "Why do I sing 

Of sun and birds, and youth, and spring?" 

The answer was — "Because you live." 

I asked myself: "Why do I dream. 

And worlds destroy, and worlds redeem?" 

The answer was — "Because you live." 

I asked: "Why all the burdens bear 

Of a hard life, and death I fear?" 

And answered — "Because you live." 



Maybe that miracles to see was oftener given 
Than to great multitudes of men, though often 
brood 
Of my dark life. Stars and clouds fleeting saw in 
heaven 
And their spell felt and almost understood. 

The witness of the birth of thoughts was in my 
soul. 
And know the glory sad and sweet of hopes that 
die, 
And in great silence heard of death and life the call. 
And when myself I cried I heard my great Lord 
cry. 



48 



O, let us not love each the other! 

O, let us each the other not forgive. 
O, let us dear, 

Our vows and promises not believe! 

O, let us not bless each the other — 

It is so hard then to forget. 
And let us dream 

That each the other never met. 

Let us not long each for the other! 

And think that I was never born! 
And, crying 111 say: 

"Not you — but a dream my is forlorn. 

O, let us not love each the other! 

Let us try each the other hate. 
Maybe more kind 

Will be to us our cruel fate. 



Word, words and words again. 

so many words I said. 
And still my heart is heavy 

With words that never said. 

I'll break and tear my heart— 
And then no heart I'll have. 

And then words that are burdens 
Again I wouldn't have. 



49 



Come will a day so I dream. 

That the locks that keep me behind gray wall 

broken will be, 
And will be free to wander in field and forest, and 

mountain. 
And then will I say to my friend: 
"Then," I dream, "I will have a friend." 
What is the name of the heavy branched tree? 
And the name of the deep-rooted one? 
And what is the name of the bird that sings? 
And what is the name of the bird that rumps? 
And what is the name of that red flower? 
And what is the name of that white flower? 
And my friend will wonder and will say: 
"You are a poet and you don't know the name of 

a tree and flower. 
You are a singer 

And you don't know the name of a bird. 
Tell me what inspired you? 
I will seek an answer in silence 
And 1 will think maybe I was inspired 
By everything that to know I missed, 
By the things that I longed to see and could not. 
By the things that I longed to hear and did not. 
By the things that I could not gain and approach. 
And I will long to tell this my friend. 
But I will fear that will be misunderstood — 
And I will be silent and think, think of a strange 

fate." 



50 



He worshipped her as a meek slave 
And she was like a naughty queen. 

hers a kind word made happy him. 
But seldom a kind word could win. 

And for love of another one 

She left him with the pain and sting. 
But later back she came disgraced 

A poor humble slave and found a king. 



Lord, the sunshine I of you demand— 

I am deprived by fate! 
And the smiles I didn't get 
O, Lord, I await! 

I my holy birthright must demand — 
'Tis holier than your will. 

Till in my soul death 

Peace and rest will instill. 



Little dear, you looked at me 

And I know why. 
Because in your young heart 

Now there lives a little spy. 

And he spies days, days long. 

And he spies night; 
And he seeks, seeks for you 

Admiring knights. 



51 



If you're a poet, then don't say: 

"No beauty is in your life. 
And that waste every day 

In grudging misery and strife." 

God does not make of gold pure gold. 

And of Suns does not He make suns. 
Earth to give light is by him told. 

And makes to sparkle and twinkle hard stones. 



I pity all those that are as I 

And that with souls as my were born! 
Day every for themselves must cry 

And every day the world must mourn. 

Friends of the world and all alone 
When, when can I or they find rest. 

God let me the only one 

O Lord, Lord, let me be the last. 



Maybe in the year when the world will die 

As never beautiful will be spring. 
And gloriously rise the sun will high. 

As never flowers blossom and birds sing. 
And the world in that year will die 

And in the gloomy day when come will my death, 
I'll see a happy smiling happy rumping child 

That'll call me rump and dance, and peeved'll get. 
That wouldn't share heartily all its pranks wild. 

And this'll be the day of my death. 



52 



The yellow leaves on the trees whisper, whisper, 
whisper: 
"Our days arc gone, our life is past. We fall and 
fall. 
And there is no other world for us that is to come. 
And never back to life and youth will hear the 
Lord's call." 

O, poor and dying, brooding leaves, don't cry, don't 
cry! 

O, not alone in the world gloomy are that fall — 
O ! withering's my face and a girl sad I know 

That dies as you do with a brooding withered soul. 



God, are you sometimes a man? 

And the truth as men to see you dare, 
Boldly as a man admit when wrong, 

's your desire as men's is to be fair. 

Or handicapped you are 

By your will that's powerful and great, 
Or learned only to command 

And from nothing misery create. 



53 



Mj'^ known and unknown brother friend, 
God shall from the great misery 
Save you of being right in the world! 
0, I know what it is — It was my fate 
Sad to be often right in the world. 
My known and unknown sister friend, 
I bless you wath the greatest blessing 
I know that never shall attain 
The state of sainthood. O, I know 
What it is. It was my sad fate 
Sometimes to be a saint. 



Covered with brambles factory walls 
Strangers make to feel at ease, 
And their love for graceful please. 
But behind the brambled green walls 
Broken hearts arc and broken souls. 
Factories brambled me don't deceive. 
They are evil in a new style. 
It is the devil's pleasing smile. 
They can happy fools deceive 
But I never will them believe. 



54 



Deny it, if you only can, 

That our fear of the world and fate 
Is the fear of little helpless beast 

Of monsters great. 

Deny it, if you only can, 

That pray in sorrow and despair. 
When challenge would and scoff and curse, 

If we would dare. 



A little girl kneeled before a cross 

To worship and to pray. 
To plead and beg for many things. 

In a wise childish waj'. 

She whispered: "Father — Lord, give me 

The bitterness of things 
That are as honey mellow sweet, 
And feel the joy of stings." 

"O let me hear and see," she said, 

"A serpent's cheerful joy — 
And let me know when a little lark 

The world wants to destroy." 



55 



Lord, send me suffering of soul 
Try me with misery, O Lord! 
But as men justify my pains, 
O Lord, Lord justify my sorrows! 

It isn't the woes that I fear, 
Not they my heart break, but the thoughts 
And doubts of their strange mystery, 
They cry of the baffled soul why, why? 



Out of the way I seek a way 

Because was told: "Be brave, be bold. 
And storm face, and face blizzard cold. 

And find for men a way." 

Far from the world brood for the world. 
Depths of its pains my soul attains 
Because in my heart and my veins 

Buns the blood of the world. 



O yesterday I thought, 
I love your youthful eyes 

But when we love the stars 
We love the blue, blue, skies. 

O yesterday I thought, 

That smiling my heart win. 

But, when the flowers love, 
We love the valley green. 



56 



I wouldn't dare to face my Lord, 

If wouldn't win. 
O, this would be my greatest shame. 

My greatest sin. 

Before he thought of all the world 

He thought of me. 
And, if with bowed head back would come. 

How pained would be. 

And in his hopes and dreams deceived 

My Lord would cry. 
And million times me recreate 

Again would try. 

And of this great pain and struggle 

My Lord must save 
A million times on me for him 

Enoughs' to slave. 



God wanted to create a wonder great 

Of fire and he created light and stars, and suns. 
God wanted to create a wonder great 

Of water and lakes. He made to fall on rocks and 
stones. 

God wanted to create a wonder great 

Of colors subtle and he told to grow grass and 
tree. 
God wanted to create a wonder great 

Of flesh and bones and he created men and me. 



57 



I awoke at night and in my sleepy mind 
Thought I am yet a little helpless child. 

That awoke and my dear mother didn't find, 
And I wanted to cry loud and wild. 

But to think regained my whole power I 

And I did not cry. 
No, I cried, cried but no one around could hear, 

As a little child's soul, my poor soul cried. 

But you wouldn't see then my a bitter tear — 
Every sigh of mine in my heart died. 

O, as a child I could not cry then. 
So cried as a man. 



When the young are called in battlefield, 

To murder and to kill, 
We as our sisters and our mothers 

This horror great can't feel. 

If on the battlefield would be shed. 
The warm blood of girls young. 

If rot on mountain sides they would 
Unburied for days long. 

Then, then maybe it would be men 

That would the horror feel 
Of sending mothers, sisters, wives 

To murder and to kill. 



58 



When twilight dawns, 

The world is sad; 
And shadows speak 

Of all the dead. 

And man, poor man, 
Is a helpless beast, 

And man's deep pain 
's in a bird's breast. 

And stars twinkle, twinkle, 
In thoughtful fear. 

Though to the Lord 
They are so near. 

"When twilight dawns. 
Your poor soul cries; 

And something feel 
In your heart dies. 

* f! * * 



59 



Another book of Poems, "Frag- 
ments of a Life," by the same 
author, is in preparation and soon 
will be published. 



r^^_.;.._.,-«:«_ n. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



018 395 734 P • 



